Northwestern Men’s Basketball Faces Howard in Year-End Matchup

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men’s basketball will close out the 2025 calendar year with a non-conference game against Howard on Tuesday, December 30, at 4 p.m. CT in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network and can also be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 380.

The Wildcats (7-5, 0-2 Big Ten) recently suffered a narrow 61-58 defeat against Butler, marking their fifth loss in six games. In that contest, Northwestern played without their leading scorer, Nick Martinelli, due to a concussion. His absence was felt as the team struggled to score early, managing only two points in the first seven minutes of the game.

Northwestern’s defense showed promise, limiting Butler to just 37.9% shooting from the field, forcing 14 turnovers. Junior guard, Arrinten Page, stepped up to lead the team with 14 points and six assists, but the Wildcats will need a more balanced offense to succeed against Howard.

This season, Northwestern has had six games decided by five points or fewer, tying for the second-highest in the nation. The Wildcats have demonstrated steady improvement, achieving a field goal percentage of 49.1%, ranking sixth in the Big Ten and 49th nationally.

Martinelli has been averaging 21.9 points per game, ranking second in the Big Ten, and could play against Howard if he clears concussion protocol. Meanwhile, newcomers Jayden Reid and Arrinten Page have also contributed significantly throughout the season.

Howard enters the matchup with a record of 9-5 and is led by Bryce Harris, who averages 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The Bison are known for their aggressive defense, forcing an average of 15.9 turnovers per game.

Northwestern has an impressive home record in non-conference play, going 25-2 at Welsh-Ryan Arena over the last four seasons. The last encounter with Howard occurred on December 20, 2007, where Northwestern triumphed 77-51.

After the Howard game, Northwestern will resume Big Ten play on January 3 against Minnesota.